33 flights hit at Mumbai airport as runways shut for 40 mins

As many as 33 flights were affected at the city airport today after authorities, citing maintenance work, shut both the runways for about 40 minutes.

As many as 33 flights were affected at the city airport on Wednesday after authorities, citing maintenance work, shut both the runways for about 40 minutes.

A Jet Airways flight from Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad and there was a delay of nearly an hour due to the closure of the runways between 9.47 am-10.27 am, an airport spokesperson said here.

"During the routine inspection of the runway, it was noticed that an inset light at intersection area of the cross runway had become loose. As a safety precaution, this was taken up for urgent repair and hence both the runway remained out of operation during that time," the spokesperson said.

The authorities issued a mandatory NOTAM (Notice to Airman) before taking up the maintenance work, which affected 14 arrivals and another 19 departures, the spokesperson said.